Vegetos

Abstract

Anabasis aphylla L. (Chenopodiaceae) is a dominant perennial inhabiting salt desert of Xinjiang, China. For its potential in vegetation restoration, experiments were conducted in laboratory to determine the effect of temperature, salinity and winged perianths on seed germination. Seeds were germinated at six alternating temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°), with five NaCl concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mM) and 12 h photoperiod. Germination percentage decreased with an increase in temperature and NaCl concentration. The higher percentages were obtained at 15° in seeds exposed to 100 mM NaCl. Recovery percentages increased over 16% in the higher concentrations, when in the 100 NaCl mM concentration it increased by only 5.5%. Thus, A. aphylla was moderately salt tolerant at germination stage, and the tolerance was affected by the interaction of temperature and NaCl concentration. Finally, attached winged perianths and the presence of detached winged perianths significantly inhibited germination, removal enhanced germination. The winged perianth was a mechanical barrier and inhibitor for seeds emergence; hence, it inhibited germination. These findings imply that germination strategy of A. aphylla is adaptive to snowmelt mechanism in Junggar Basin.